Shane Sweet Attends NPGA Expo, Chats with Steve Kaminski

I had the good fortune to attend the 2025 NPGA Southeastern & International Propane Expo at the Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, NC.  The event ran from Friday, April 4 through Sunday, April 6. Days 2 and 3 featured an open exhibit floor with access to 209 vendors. A week later I had the chance to chat with NPGA President and CEO Steve Kaminski about the show, as well as the state of affairs of the propane industry.

My takeaway from the discussion about the show and Steve’s assessment of the industry’s posture can be summed up in a few words: positive, well-positioned, enthusiastic, optimistic. I walked the floor for most of the day on that Saturday, speaking to attendees, always asking the vendors how the show was going for them and, “Was it worth the trip to the show as an exhibitor?”

Every exhibitor I spoke with, bar none, answered in the affirmative. Not one had anything negative to say about the show; quite to the contrary, everyone said they liked what was happening in Charlotte, were “glad to be here,” and felt the show well-attended and the atmosphere upbeat.

When we chatted on April 10 I told Steve: “It (the show) felt like a win to me, Steve.”  

Having run my share of fuel industry events, including two trade shows similar to the Expo, I know all too well that you can’t make everyone happy.

What’s the secret sauce, you ask?

No question about it:  attendees liked the location. I heard plenty of comparisons of Charlotte to prior venues and not one negative for Charlotte. The convention center was a short Uber ride from the airport, access to the building was not difficult or congested, so getting there and into the facility was painless. The show floor was well-organized, well-marked or “signed,” the aisles were spaced wide enough to avoid bottlenecks but narrow enough to maintain a personal experience, and an open concession served attendees right on the show floor. Getting my lanyard and badge took moments and the registration desk people were in good spirits.

Kaminski added that attendees were generally happy and positive.  Both vendors and retailers were coming out of a “good winter,” and he noted that January propane gallons sold were the highest of any month since 2007. The political and regulatory environment, having improved of late, had those in the propane advocacy machine feeling as if there may be some light at the end of the short-term tunnel. Kaminski noted that NPGA has already achieved several federal policy wins in 2025 and is positioning the industry for more.

Education-wise, NPGA packed a lot of content into the schedule. Highlights included:

• USDOT Propane Gas Cargo Tank Workshop
• Propane’s Role in Responsible and Sustainable Energy Diversification in Power Generation
• Unveiling the Future of Human and Artificial Intelligence
• PERC’s Safety and Educational Updates
• A World of Innovation
• You Have the Technology…. Why Aren’t You Using It?
• WIP Leadership Forum @ the Expo
• Under Pressure: Outlook for the U.S. Propane Market
• Building a Safety Culture in the Propane Industry
• Grow Your Business with the Latest Marketing Resources from PERC
• The Psychology and Technology of Operational Efficiency
• Reigniting Propane: Incorporating Automation, Digital Platforms and AI into Your Strategy
• 2025 Federal, Legislative, and Regulatory Priorities
• Safety & Products Standards – How Do We Change the Culture?
• National Propane Survey Panel Discussion: What the Experts Say (certificate session)
• Scaling Up Sustainable Fuels and Equipment: Paving the Way for a Greener Future
• The Impact of the 2024 Hurricane Season on Propane Country in the Southeast
• Why You Should be Concerned about Cybersecurity Threats, and How to Protect Your Business
• PERC Update
• Tariffs: Latest Developments and Propane Industry Impact (approximately 200 attended this session led by Steve Kaminski)
• Benchmarking: Every Topic Adds Value
• Propane Alternative Technologies for Gallon Growth Opportunities
• Propane & Social Media: Best Practices You Can Utilize for your Business (certificate session)
• Lawsuits, Taxes, and Probate: Reduction Strategies for Propane Gas Professionals
• Preparing for 2027: Emission Changes for Truck Chassis Roundtable
• Three Who Sold their Companies: Revealing Inside Stories

Total show attendance was in the neighborhood of 3,400. Steve said he anticipates an increase for the 2026 show. Congratulations to NPGA on a very successful event.